WATERMARK on the BEACH at IRIRIKI ISLAND

            When I first heard the name of the newest restaurant at Iririki Island Resort (because a watermark distinguishes the finest vellum), I had visions of very posh, very chic, uppity little fingers erect at high tea, and everyone affecting airs.  Au Contraire!  As the Food and Beverage Manager for Iririki Resort explained about her newest baby with a mischievous Irish twinkle in her eye, the buzz words at Watermark on the Beach are: “relaxed, casual, fun, free-form dining available to all.”  With Iririki’s new family resort opening on the opposite end of the island from the original Adults Only facilities, the Watermark welcomes people of all ages.  Its menu emphasizes affordable dining and drinks, and value for money while retaining an upscale resort feeling. (Light meal/Appetizer: 600-1200vt, Mains: 1200-2000vt, Sides: 300-800vt, Desserts: 500-700vt)  The large outdoor deck overlooks the island’s best beach and the yachts decorating the bay. Panoramic sliding glass walls can open up the interior to cooling breezes or protect it from an afternoon squall, or transform the ambiance from an open daytime beach restaurant, to cozier evening dining room.  “We’re offering here the kind of fun, innovative dining that’s currently popular in Australia and New Zealand,” she smiled.  Perusing the menu, I saw what she meant.  Notably there’s a heading called “Fusion”, (what I dubbed Nouvelle Eclectic Gourmet in an earlier article), an anything-goes melding of unlikely ethnic flavors.  Two examples are: Five Spice-Duck Salad with maple caramelized apples, palm hearts and walnuts, or Cantonese Red Chicken on a yam and lop chong cake with master star anise sauce. (Lop chong is a kind of sweet-salty Chinese salami).  There are some great sounding Grill Plates too, like Portuguese Spatchcock with char-grilled lime.  The recommendation de soiree was BBQ Platter for 2 (3000vt), a generous sampling of fish, chicken, and meat skewers, BBQ ribs, mini-steaks, and other delights served with a prawn salad, slices of toasted black olive bread, and an assortment of sauce and chutneys.  I especially liked the caramelized onion salsa/chutney, which gives a wonderful pizzazz to the fish or chicken skewers.

            That Friday evening, Telek, one of the most dynamic bands that “packed the house” at the Fest Napuan music festival this year, treated diners to their unique PNG inspired style.   The only downside to the evening was a large party of loud people, whose voices were magnified and distorted by the acoustics, making them yell even louder, while the band’s sound was drowned out.  But things are changing fast and furiously at Iririki (probably in preparation for the Christmas crowds) and the F&B Manager assured us that she had already requested a high quality sound system, and that soon all will be in place for perfect enjoyment of Friday (and soon Sat, as well) live entertainment.

            Other features of note at the Watermark – the restaurant extends its regular 7-11AM breakfast hours and menu on Sat. and Sun. for brunch up until 3PM.  Lunch/Dinner menu starts everyday at 11AM till late at night. For reservations for the Watermark: Phone 23388 Ext. 350.

Editor’s note:  Since the writing of this article, there have been some personnel changes which may or may not affect the observations noted in this article.

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